belonging to, characteristic of, or favoured by former times; outdated
old-fashioned ideas
favouring or adopting the dress, manners, fashions, etc, of a former time
quizzically doubtful or disapproving
she did not reply, but gave him an old-fashioned look
dialect old for one's age
an old-fashioned child
See ancient 1.
First recorded in 1900–05
First recorded in 1645–55
Something that's old-fashioned is out of style or from the past. You could call an antique telephone old-fashioned, and you could also describe your elderly grandfather this way. Out-of-date clothes, like your aunt's wardrobe of 1980's dresses with shoulder pads, are old-fashioned. Soda fountains, carriages pulled by horses, and typewriters are all old-fashioned as well. These things are either not currently popular, or they're just plain old. There is also a whisky-based mixed drink called an old-fashioned which is still served in many stylish bars and restaurants.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But I’m old fashioned, and young comics are going to probably make fun of me, but I think the cream tends to rise.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026
Meanwhile, old fashioned conglomerate Berkshire-Hathaway is changing hands with Warren Buffett stepping down at the age of 95.
From Slate ● Jan. 3, 2026
However, McElligott reckons that this narrative of more skeptical AI thinking has been used to explain what in essence is simply old fashioned profit-taking after a strong run.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 19, 2025
The prince also said: "I have had it described to me, once people knew about the facts, that this is a good old fashioned establishment stitch up - and that's what it feels like."
From BBC ● May 2, 2025
Presently two cowboys started to dancing the old fashioned polka together, and in a jiffy the whole company was whirling about the room madly.
From The Motor Maids Across the Continent by Stokes, Katherine
Trout is an All-Star for the 12th time, the old-fashioned way: He earned it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez said Toronto's stadium - the smallest of all the World Cup stadiums, featuring temporary seating built to accommodate the crowds - reminded him of the "old-fashioned Premier League grounds".
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
If you’re someone who thinks about estate planning the old-fashioned way — working with a lawyer to set up instructions for what happens to your assets after you die — this may not compute.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026
No, these were good old-fashioned pirates, sponsored by the Barbary states: the kingdom of Morocco was independent, while Algiers, Tripoli and Tunis owed a loose allegiance to the Ottoman Empire.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
As she listened Naima caught sight of an old-fashioned rickshaw.
From "Rickshaw Girl" by Mitali Perkins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
